Blades suspend Brown after rant at Evans' victim

24 April 2012 03:48

Sheffield United said Tuesday they had suspended reserve team player Connor Brown for posts he made on Twitter following striker Ched Evans's conviction for rape.

As well as tweeting his support for Evans, Brown called his victim "a money-grabbing little tramp" and launched what the Sheffield Star newspaper said was an "extraordinary swear-word filled rant" at the woman.

United and Wales forward Evans, 23, was jailed for five years on Friday after being found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman at a hotel in Rhyl, North Wales, in May last year.

English third tier promotion hopefuls United said in a statement Tuesday:

"Sheffield United Football Club have suspended reserve team player Connor Brown with immediate effect pending an internal investigation into comments apparently posted on his personal Twitter account.

"There will be no further comment from the club during the process of the investigation which it hopes to conclude swiftly."

Under English law, all alleged victims of rape are supposed to have their identity protected for life but the Star reported Monday the "Internet has also apparently been used to illegally name the girl".

Evans, who has scored 35 goals for United this season and has 13 caps for Wales, had admitted having sex with the woman but told the court during the trial she had consented.